IKYIM

This is another one of those LP's that has just sneaked straight into my top 10 of 2014. I really need to pull out all the records I have bought from this year and start making a solid top 10. This year has been so impressive for new music, and there's still a couple of months to ride out yet (and I need to play a little catch up too). 

Moose Blood - I'll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time - 1st Press - No Sleep Records - Cloudy Clear / Powder Blue Haze /300 - Banquet Records Exclusive. 

First things first, this album art is pretty cool. I always think this band pick some solid album art, and it always makes an impact and resonates particularly with at least a track or two. I'd like to hang where this photo was taken. 

Back cover. I think the photograph extends and is the same photo, but without a gatefold cover we'll never know I guess? Either way it's still some great art. The barcode on the sleeve has been replaced with a stickered code over the top of it. As this was a Banquet exclusive (and cheaper than their regular distro copies) they were probably registered differently. I don't know. Also, this new Moose Blood logo (above the track-listing) has been kicking around on the internet prior to the album release. Bands should have logos more often; I still get people pointing out my Alkaline Trio and Touche Amore tattoos when they haven't even heard the band. 

On to the record! Although this is the rarest of the 1st press (aside from the No Sleep sub colour) I would quite happily have taken any colour, as they all look incredible. But this was the easiest to grab for me. I don't have another record like this in my collection, it's quite bizarre looking but it works with the art so well. Plus, the haze in it makes it a real trip when it's on a turntable. It's worth pointing out too that No Sleep have started doing these heavy duty dust jackets that are printed with No Sleep logos in the bottom right corner. They look way nicer than your standard white sleeves, and just feel like they're looking after the record a little more. 

B Side. The A label reads: 'Ill Keep You In Mind' and the B Label reads 'From Time To Time', pretty neat right? This side of the dust sleeve also is printed with the words 'Death To False Music' which gets thrown around on No Sleep merch and samplers. It's cool by me, maybe a slightly cheesy thing, but Chris Hansen has released enough great records to really do what he likes with his dust sleeves. 

Another thing. This record is crazy held up to the light, and you can really see the powder blue coming out in the haze. Definitely a good shout to get this variant made up. 

Next up is the insert. More photography from the cover art stuff I assume? And with a massive MB logo over the top. The background photo is nice, and I'm a sucker for autumn and continuing themes on record design. 

The insert is more of a 12'' booklet deal, with all the lyrics // thanks // credits on this side. I'm really into this and it's a perfect size for following the lyrics. I've listened to this so damn much already. 

Anyone want my download code? On the upside, I emailed No Sleep and got a new code with no hassle. I think this happened on a few of them, not a big deal and definitely more funny than anything else. 

Finally, the inside of the sleeve is orange to match the centre labels and the whole campfire thing on the cover. I'm starting to see more and more colour matching inside sleeves. Definitely something to keep an eye out on; and some labels are really making an aesthetic jump and going all out on ccertain releases. Which is good news for me, as I won't run out of stuff to say any time soon!

Speaking of stepping up the design game; someone sell me that rec release variant of this LP please? Grown ass man stuff got in the way of me getting to either gig.

NSR127 

Thanks for reading!

Boston // Orlando

I never realised how much people dug this record until recently, with a heartbreaking £80+ eBay price tag (from a recent auction), it seems this item is in some quite hefty demand. Funny really, as it's a lathe cut, so the sound quality isn't up there with it's wax brother, and more importantly, it's two songs. Two great songs to be fair, but still only two songs, about 7 minutes of music. Private deals are rumoured to consistently hit the £35-50 mark too. Mental. Saying that, the band in question are brilliant, and this thing was quite limited and a fun little release too. 

Here it is. Boston // Orlando by Moose Blood. It's an 8'' square lathe cut, single sided with two tracks (Boston and Orlando). Fist in the Air (FITA) put this out as a limited one time press. FITA are a cool UK label who have released three Moose Blood records, and a bunch of other great stuff. 

It's impossible to take a good photo of this thing. But it does look really nice as a package, and I've always enjoyed the occasional shaped record in my collection. 

The front cover is fantastic, the imagery suits the songs perfectly. A small run of shirts with this art were made up as a package deal with the release of this, but knowing (roughly) the availability of the release at the time, I just wanted to grab the record and check out as quick as possible. 

Here is the back cover. The lathe comes in a poly sleeve with a double sided single sheet insert that acts as the cover art too. Also here you get the numbering scheme. I ended up with 47/50. I'm not sure if this means I got in early and they counted down or whether I nearly missed out. The numbers could be completely random I guess? I'm also pretty sure that 52 was the official number when all was said and done, and they got numbered 51/50 and 52/50 accordingly. But that's anyone's guess as to where they ended up. I was told they were already spoken for when pre-orders went up! If you have sharp eyes you'll also see the tag line EMO IS A GANG. Erm. 

Obligatory stickers and stuff. I like the sticker with the art on, of course it's still in the sleeve, never to be used. I also still have the download card (it hasn't been used either). If I feel the need to hear the songs, stick 'em on right? The last sticker on the bottom right also contains some info on the back about the lathe cut... 

There you go! 

A quick word about this release. This package looks like it took an awful lot of time and effort. A few people moaned about the limited availability of the record; but appreciate these things were individually made, the art individually cut to size etc. a lot of hard work went into this release, and it's really appreciated (speaking personally). This went up for pre-order on a Sunday if I remember correctly, at somewhere between 6-8pm (can't remember the specific time). It went super fast, definitely under a minute, it was one of those definite scrapes of luck (and being armed with a laptop and two iPhone's helped). Before anyone asks, I was only using all of those to guarantee ONE copy, I only have ONE copy. The only time I remember a pre-order that tense was the Valentines day edition of Is Survived By by Touche Amore, but that's a story for another day. I believe this was £7.99 on release day, and it was definitely worth that, maybe even a little more. But £80, I envy a guy that can have that throw that down on what is effectively a single. Saying that, I feel your pain, we've probably all paid through the teeth for a record that was originally worth about £3. The struggle is real folks. 

Thank you for reading.